2012 Meeting of federal, provincial and territorial ministers of immigration.

Following a two-day meeting, federal, provincial and territorial immigration ministers committed to work together to develop and implement an immigration model for Canada, similar to a model currently in place in New Zealand and Australia. Called an Expression of Interest (EOI) model, it aims to transform Canada’s immigration system into one that is more responsive to labour market demand, by providing opportunities for governments and employers to access a pool of skilled workers.

“The federal government’s focus remains on economic growth and job creation, and immigration plays a key role in Canada’s long-term prosperity,” said federal Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “Co-operation between federal, provincial and territorial governments is key to the success of Canada’s immigration system and securing better outcomes for newcomers.”

“Immigration is vital for economic growth and our system must be more competitive internationally,” said Stephen Khan, Alberta minister of enterprise and advanced education. “On behalf of the provinces and territories, we look forward to continuing our work with the Government of Canada to transform the immigration system, making it faster and more responsive to provincial/territorial needs.”

The ministers agreed that economic immigration programs must be focused on delivering economic benefits to Canada, both in terms of meeting labour market needs and generating growth for the Canadian economy. It was further noted that the Provincial Nominee Program has helped to spread the benefits of economic immigration across the country, having grown almost seven-fold since 2004 and that provinces and territories are uniquely positioned to determine their regional labour market and skill needs.

All the ministers committed to a three-year action plan to achieve an immigration system that attracts, welcomes and supports newcomers to join in building vibrant communities and a prosperous Canada.